Solar electric output tapers-off during daily maximum electric demand
Colorado-Wyoming daily electric power supply
July 1-15, 2021
electric generation highest in late-afternoon & early evening to supply consumers’ consumption demand
windpower produced no daily pattern
solar daily electric declined during evening peak consumption periods
hot days caused electric generation to increase in response to higher electric consumption
Electric power generated in Colorado and most of Wyoming supplies the consumption demand of electric consumers in these States. Some electric capacity is exchanged with Balancing Authorities and electric utilities in adjoining States.
Electric generating sources include:
wind turbines
solar panels
combustion natural gas and coal power plants
hydroelectric dams and pumped hydro storage
other, such as biogas methane
- - -
Hourly electric generating data by energy source for Colorado-alone are not available for public viewing as of the date of this report. See Appendix for details.
Daily peak electric demand consistent at 3 - 7 PM
Fig. 1: Hourly electric generation from all sources for Colorado and Wyoming: July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data. Tap/click to enlarge.
A daily pattern of maximum electric generation in late afternoon and early evening was consistent through the July 1 - 15, 2021 period. <Fig. 1>
Variable windpower with no daily high/low cycle
Fig. 2: Hourly wind electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Daily maximum windpower output periods did not follow a pattern. Some days show little wind electric production until the late-afternoon and early evening peak demand period. <Fig. 2>
Daily wind-generated electric power was present each day July 1-15, 2021, but production was low on July 4, 5, 7, 11 and 15. <Fig. 3>
Fig. 3: Daily wind electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Colorado and Wyoming
Windpower Stats
July 1 - 15, 2021
Windpower |
MWhr |
Date |
|---|---|---|
_____________ |
_________ |
________ |
maximum |
56,562 |
Jul 08 |
minimum |
16,043 |
Jul 11 |
average |
38,387 |
|
Solar electric supply mostly stable, with two poor days
Fig. 4: Hourly solar electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: Junly 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Solar electric generation performed steadily for most of the first half of July 2021. <Fig. 4>
Total daily output reached a maximum of 7,338 MWhr on July 7, and was below 3,500 MWhr only on July 13 and 14. <Fig. 5>
Fig. 5: Daily solar electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Colorado-Wyoming
Solar Energy Stats
July 1-15, 2021
Solar |
MWhr |
Date |
|---|---|---|
____________ |
________ |
_________ |
maximum |
7,388 |
Jul 07 |
minimum |
2,917 |
Jul 14 |
average |
5,620 |
|
Solar declined during the daily peak electric demand
Wind sometimes picked-up
July 7 is an example of solar electric generation declining as consumers’ demand reached daily maximum. Wind electric generation was minimal for the first half of the consumption peak. <Fig. 6>
Fig. 6: Hourly wind, solar and total electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: July 7, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Mixed results
Fig. 7: Hourly wind, solar and total electric generation - Colorado and Wyoming: July 10, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
July 10 is an example of both wind electric generation remaining flat during the first half of the late-day peak consumption demand period. <Fig. 7>
90+ degree F days caused higher electric demand
Electric consumption mostly tracked Denver CO maximum daily temperatures. July 3, 4, and 6 were exceptions. <Fig. 8 and 9>
Two days were hotter than most, causing electric demand and consumption to increase in the Colorado-Wyoming region:
99ºF - July 8
95ºF - July 9
Fig. 8: Daily maximum demand - Colorado and Wyoming. Denver daily maximum temperatures. July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
Fig. 9: Daily total megaWatthours - Colorado and Wyoming. Denver daily maximum temperatures. July 1-15, 2021. Linecurrents.live chart, U.S. EIA data.
APPENDIX
Charts in this report created from hourly data supplied to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) by two Balancing Authorities which monitor electric power supply and demand in Colorado and Wyoming:
Western Area Power Administration (WACM)
Rocky Mountain Region, Loveland CO
Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCO)
Denver CO (Xcel Energy)
Colorado and Wyoming electric supply are combined in this report. The WACM Balancing Authority includes most of Colorado and Wyoming. WACM hourly electricity generation data supplied to EIA by Western Area Power Administration does separate Colorado and Wyoming. Therefore, charts below show results for both States
The role of Balancing Authorities is described at Colorado and Wyoming hourly electric power - June 1-15, 2021. A map of WACM and PSCO Balancing Authority territories is also available at the same site.
Top photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash.com